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D. R. MILLER. Mail-Bag Fastenings.

No.1223,s57. Patented Jan. 27, 1880.

NFETERS. PHO'TUIJTHOGRPHEH. WASHINGTON. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.,

DANIEL R. MILLER, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

MAIL-BAG FASTENING.

Y SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 223,857, dated January 27, 1880.

Application filed June 16,1879. V

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL R. MILLER, of Denver, in the county of Arapahoe and State of Colorado, have invented certainv new and useful Improvements in Mail-Bag Locks; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specication, and iii whichy Figure lis a side view of a mail-bag provided with my improved lock or fastening. Fig. 2 is a top view of the bag, partly opened or distended, with the lock slide removed. Fig. 3 is a section on linexx, Fig. l; and Fig. 4 is a section, on an enlarged scale, of the spring-catch which is used in combination with and forms a part of my improvement.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

This invention relates to locking devices or fastenings for mail and other bags or sacks; and it consists inthe construction and combination of parts, as hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,A A is the bag, made of leather, canvas, or any other suitable material. B B are two plates, hinged together at c, and provided with -ianges b b', which are riveted or otherwise secured firmly on one sideK of the mouth or opening, as shown. Upon the other side oi' the mouth, opposite to the plates B Bf, are two short rods or pieces of stout wire, G O', sewed into the rim of the bag; or, if preferred, iianged plates similar to BB may be used on that side also.

D is a longitudinally-slotted tube, forming a slide, which may be insertedV eudwise upon the flanges b b' oi' plates B B5 and rods O C', so as to clamp these together. The flanges b b are cutoff a short distance on each side of and adjacent to the hinge a., and a corresponding space islei't on the opposite side of the bag between the meeting ends of rods G G. Into this open space (denoted by d on the drawings) fits the downward-projecting latch e of the spring-catch E, which is placed mid- Way upon slide D, and consists of a box, f, containing a coiled spring, g, the lower end of which works against the latch-plate @,which plays vertically in box f by means of a guidepin, h, projecting up through a central perforation in the top of box f. In the lower part of this box is a lateral slot or opening, t', to admit of the insertion of a bevel-key, of any suitable construction, with which to raise the latch-plate e out of the notches d in the mouth of the bag, and thus permit the lock-slide D to be withdrawn and the bag opened.

Having thus described my invention, which is applicable not only to mail-bags, but to satchels and similar articles adapted to its use, (in which case the spring-catch E may sometimes be dispensed with and the slotted slide D held in place by friction only,) I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesl. The slotted slide D, having spring-catch E, consisting of the box f, spring g, and latchplate c, having guide-pin h, arranged and operating substantially as set forth.

2. The Acombination of the bag A, having jointed plates or rods B B C C', with the slotted locking-slide D, having vertically-operating spring-latch E, substantially as described, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DANIEL R. MILLER.

Witnesses:

E. KINsLEY SMITH, CHESTER SMITH. 

